Survivor Spotlight

Megan’s Story

I remember the day she arrived with her two little ones… both of them clinging to mom, tired, quiet, and unsure. She looked the same way: exhausted, scared, and like she’d been carrying far too much for far too long.

As we sat down together, she told me how her life used to look picture-perfect from the outside. She had dated her partner for a while, everything seemed wonderful, and everyone thought he was “the perfect guy.” They got married, had two beautiful children, and built what looked like a dream life.

But slowly over time things started to change. He chipped away at her confidence, her friendships, her independence. By the time she could see what was happening, she felt trapped in a life she didn’t recognize.

He convinced her that moving to Oregon would give them a “fresh start.” Instead, after the move, everything got worse. That’s when he started hitting her. She didn’t know anyone here. She wasn’t working because he didn’t want her to. Most nights she cried herself to sleep, feeling like she didn’t even know who she was anymore.

She told me she had stopped talking to her family because she didn’t want them to think she’d failed. She said she didn’t reach out for help sooner because she assumed other people had it worse, and she didn’t want to “take someone else’s spot”.

Then one night, after a terrible fight, a neighbor knocked on her door the next morning just to ask if she was okay. That really scared her. She said it was the first time in years someone had looked at her and truly seen her fear. She knew the next time could be worse, and she worried that if the police or DHS got involved, she might lose her kids—or worse.

That’s when she dug out the number her mom had given her weeks earlier and called Hope & Safety Alliance.

I told her she wasn’t imagining things, she wasn’t alone, and none of this was her fault. Together, we safety planned, and eventually she made the decision to leave.

Jamie’s House became her safe place to land. Those first few days, they all slept a lot. Her kids slowly relaxed, started playing, started laughing again. Little by little, she opened up. She started making a plan for herself and her children.

With support from the shelter team, she eventually reconnected with her family out of state, and together we helped her get back to them safely.

On the day she left, she hugged me and said, “I feel like I’m finally myself again.”

And honestly, that’s what we hope for every survivor who walks through our doors.

If you or someone you know needs help, call our 24-hour crisis and support line today 541-485-6513